Quote:
Originally Posted by Sigaba
An educational psychologist at USC's School of Education has offered a competing definition of education. He defined an education as a set of tools and skills that empower a student to reach goals that the student sets for himself. To me, this definition establishes a distinct difference between education and indoctrination.
My own experiences have led me to conclude that the educational system is tilted too far towards indoctrination. Educators, especially in the humanities and social sciences, already have an incredible opportunity to privilege their views over those of their students through the selection of course materials. Educators should (dare I say 'must'?) do a better job at letting students make up their own minds. While I do think a certain degree of indoctrination is needed to establish ground rules and expectations given the limited length of an academic term, it is simply not an educator's prerogative to attempt to rewrite the values of his or her students.
My own preference would be for young people to be taught the critical thinking skills and communication skills they need to evaluate rigorously the utility all information they encounter in regards how that information helps them meet their goals. I have less of a problem with a person who has read widely and thought deeply and disagrees with me than an indoctrinated person who may appear to share the same core beliefs.
Any information that has lasting merit will survive intense scrutiny; information that does not have merit will not. Faith in God endures because the faithful scrutinize and wrestle with their beliefs on a daily basis, not because they're indoctrinated. I am confident that such an approach will result in a citizenry that won't agree on every issue but, at least, would be able to give Senator Obama what he's thus far avoided: a thorough vetting.
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This is very insightful...
I would like to discuss this a little bit more if your game, but I want to properly define what I understand as "indoctrination" first, so I know we are on the same sheet.
I look at "indoctrination" like I do "prescription" or "prescriptivism". Essentially telling someone what to believe. Or prescribing one system or belief over another.
Would you agree with that definition, or would you say that indoctrination is more malicious, in that it accepts the willful misleading, or manipulation of facts in order to attain its goals?
Thanks...
By the way, the reason I ask, is because I do see a place for prescriptivism in education along with critical thinking.